“The reward of selfless giving is not necessarily recognition or praise, but knowing we are making a difference in something beyond ourselves.” – Grace Cheng
Grace Cheng (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer
In a world where personal gain, competition and recognition are perceived to be paramount, the act of giving without expecting anything in return becomes incredibly beautiful and reminds us that we are human beings who can learn to care for others on an individual level. True generosity is not about expecting something in return or trading favors. It is about really wanting to help people in some way to make a positive difference in people’s lives. We usually claim that receiving brings us happiness, but more and more people are discovering that the happiness we receive really comes from giving selflessly to others.
The most beautiful form of giving is the act of giving without expecting or receiving anything in return. By offering what we have, like our time, our resources, our knowledge or our care without expecting thanks or any compensation, we show that we care about our fellow human beings. We might offer a little gesture of kindness like helping a neighbor with their groceries, helping out at a shelter, being a mentor to a student or simply listening to a friend when they need some help.
There are many benefits to selfless giving, but one of the best is the emotional reward you receive. One can do something for another person, and that provides a feeling of self-sufficiency and contentment. The reward of selfless giving is not necessarily recognition or praise, but knowing we are making a difference in something beyond ourselves.
In this way, we also develop empathy and compassion by giving. The act of giving increases one’s perspective beyond personal concern and engenders the caring mind to become kind. The generous giver then is capable of better understanding others’ well-being and potential for growth.
There is another factor that is particularly notable: if people give for no reason other than the reward of seeing people gain from their generosity, communities are strengthened by this cultivation of trust and cooperation in the populace. When one gives without expectation of financial gain or acknowledgement, individuals often increase their generosity and sense of faith in one another. One act of giving can produce many more, because one has changed the way people perceive helping one another and now others want to do it. Accordingly, once a society has become generous, it will be better able to help each other during hard times.
Another advantage of sharing is that it allows people to become aware of their value in others’ lives and to understand what they already have. Whether it is time, talent, resources or the power to generate things, realizing that they have something worth sharing can encourage people to appreciate what they have and forget about the things they lack.
It is also important to keep in mind that giving does not always involve monetary value. Some of the greatest gifts cannot be bought. A nice word, a supportive presence, a helping hand, words to lift spirits during difficult times or simply being present for someone can mean a lot. One of the biggest gifts we can give in our rushed contemporary lives is giving unconditional attention and acceptance. These are gestures that can let people know that they are appreciated, valued and not alone in their distress.
That said, maintaining an attitude of giving can be challenging, as it involves actively severing our transactional desires for praise, recognition and reward. Appreciation and gratitude are always welcome, but we must understand that giving should not be contingent on being thanked. Rather, the focus of giving should be offering people love, kindness and goodwill. In this way, the act is of great value, as there are no expectations of any benefit in return.
In the end, the joy of giving and receiving is about giving without expecting anything in return. These gifts create bonds between givers and receivers. They tell us that we lead happy lives not because we have a lot of things, but because we have given something. By giving something good and with love, we can help to create a better world for ourselves and everyone around us.
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Grace has an accounting and finance background. She enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, watching movies and playing sports.